Letter: Lafayette, West Lafayette mayors should skip Day of Prayer event

To Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis: I was quite surprised to see the report on News Channel 18 that you attended, and in at least one instance, participated in the religious spectacle known as the World Day of (Christian) Prayer on May 3.

Surely our founders had it right when, with a few carefully chosen words, they set the United States on the path of a totally secular republic. Generations of court decisions have agreed: Government is to remain scrupulously neutral in matters of religion. These principles are not upheld and defended when elected representatives place their seal of approval on these activities.

As I am sure you realize by now, the mixed blessing and curse of higher public office is that you are no longer in any real sense a private citizen when in public, but are called to a higher purpose than your own private religious beliefs. This is particularly true when you show up to take the microphone at these public events to welcome, endorse and participate.

I can point out further issues. First, these public events are enjoined by the very Bible being used by this group, in Matthew 6: 5-7, which also says they probably will not be heard. The verbal image of people babbling on the street corners (New International Version) is particularly apt.

But I want to raise a far more disturbing point. By so publicly endorsing, as mayor, just one of humanity’s thousands of religions, you have put at risk years of difficult, painstaking work by many civic, cultural and business leaders to mold a community that is welcoming to people from all walks of life. Based on your steady support of these efforts over the years, acting to negate their underlying purposes surely cannot have been your objective in this instance.

Thank you for your service and your attention.

Gordon Clark

West Lafayette

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